Dr. Rahmatollah Sedigh Sarvestani is dying. The Iranian sociologist, husband and father to U.S. citizens, suffers from prostate cancer and a pelvic tumor. With his kidneys failing after chemotherapy, doctors in Tehran have stopped treating him.

His last hope is to come to the U.S. to seek medical treatment, where doctors say he could receive potentially life-saving treatment. His U.S. citizen children sponsored him for an immigrant visa in 2003, which was finally denied in March 2012, after a period of 9 years. Following that denial, his wife and children filed for "humanitarian parole" to bring him into the country, which was also denied. After the parole request was denied and Dr. Sarvestani developed a pelvic tumor, another request for parole was filed with the USCIS. The U.S. government won't state why his case has been continuously denied, and why Dr. Sarvestani cannot join his family in the United States. When queried, a consular officer quoted an INA section "relating to espionage or sabotage" with no further explanation.

This was utterly shocking as Dr. Sarvestani has no criminal record and no history of espionage. In fact, he has been regularly criticized as pro-Western academic in Iran. In order to "spy on the U.S.," he would need to be able to talk or move. Dr. Sarvestani has cancer and a pelvic tumor, and the U.S. is his last resort for medical treatment. This Thanksgiving, call on USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas to reunite Dr. Sarvestani with his family, and grant him a new lease on life.

Letter to

Director of USCISAlejandro Mayorkas

USCIS Office of Public EngagementMariela Melero

USCIS Office of Policy and StrategyDenise Vanison

As a concerned supporter, I request you to grant humanitarian parole to a dying Iranian sociologist, Dr. Ramatollah Sarvestani (A # - 097 888 392), whose second application for humanitarian parole is currently pending with your office.

Dr. Ramatollah Sarvestani is a husband and father to U.S. citizens, and he is currently suffering from prostate cancer and a pelvic tumor. On top of the cancers, Sarvestani is an amputee and now suffers blood clotting. Obtaining prescriptions and medical equipment in Tehran is costly bureaucratic nightmare and doctors have made it quite clear that medical treatment in the U.S. is the only way to save his life.

His family has been trying to bring him to the U.S. for almost a decade with no luck. One of his U.S. citizen children sponsored him for an immigrant visa in 2003, which was finally denied in March 2012, after a period of 9 years. Following that denial, his wife and children filed for "humanitarian parole" to bring him into the country, which was also denied. After the parole request was denied and Dr. Sarvestani developed a pelvic tumor, another emergency request for parole was filed with the USCIS. When queried about the denials, a consular officer quoted an INA section "relating to espionage or sabotage" with no further explanation.

This hardly makes sense. Dr. Sarvestani is an honorable, upstanding member of society. He studied at University of Akron, in Ohio in the 1970s. Two of his daughters were born in the U.S., and his wife currently resides in the U.S. Dr. Sarvestani has no criminal record and no history of espionage or terrorism related activities. In fact, he has been an open critic of the Iranian government, and criticized by many in Iran for being pro-Western. Given his excellent service and track record, denying him humanitarian parole in the U.S. so that he can seek medical treatment, makes little sense.

This is a plea for human dignity and compassion. This Thanksgiving, please reunite Dr. Rahmatollah Sedigh Sarvestani with his family in the U.S. so that he can get proper medical treatment.